March 4, 2008

Catalino Tapia, one of the recipients of SSMC’s 2008 Sustainability Award, was recently awarded the Jefferson Award for public service. Catalino is the founder of the Bay Area Gardeners’ Foundation, which distributes scholarships to low-income immigrants and kids of immigrants who aspire to get a college education. He originally established the foundation after watching his son graduate from Berkeley law school. Catalino, who entered the country more than 40 years ago with $6 in his pocket, is proof that one does not have to be wealthy to spearhead philanthropic campaigns for those in need.

Harley Farms, another winner of the Sustainability Award, was recently profiled in the Half Moon Bay Review in an article that focused on the farm’s conservation efforts and its educational element. The farm, which hosts ongoing tours that teach visitors the process of turning goat milk into delicious cheese, recently won a four-year federal grant for creek bank restoration and water conservation.

Catalino, Harley Farms and the other winners—Care2.com and Community Gatepath—exemplify the extensive list of exciting things that are happening along the Peninsula in the name of sustainability. The winners, along with the 2008 Green Building Award winners, will be honored on March 13 at the South San Francisco Conference Center. We hope to see you there!